Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The value of cropland across the state of Iowa continues to be on the rise, along with high demand.
The Land Trends and Value Survey, presented by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter #2 REALTORS Land Institute, reported a statewide average increase of cropland values of 18.5% for the year from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 2012. This follows an average increase of 32.6% for the year from September 2010 to September 2011; and an average increase of 8.5% for the year from September 2009 to September 2010.
Farmland, timber and pasture land in our markets continue to be in great demand, said Eric Schlutz, Realtor with Ruhl Farm&Land and Muscatine Manager for Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.
“High quality cropland is in the most demand; but there is very little for sale,” Schlutz said. “There are strong commodity prices, great long-term interest rates and a limited amount of land – it’s the perfect storm for the value of land to increase.”
The survey also attributed the increase in land values to a lack of stable alternative investments and fear of inflation.
For the survey, participants are asked to estimate the average value of farmland as of September 1, 2012. These estimates are for bare, unimproved land with a sale price on a cash basis. Pasture and timberland values were also requested as supplemental information. All nine Iowa crop reporting districts showed an increase.
The survey pointed to some concerns that could affect farmland value in the future, including higher input costs, an increase in interest rates, larger amounts of land being offered for sale, and continued uncertainty of the U.S. and world economy.
“There are always going to be variables of concern for future growth in value,” said Schlutz. “But history has shown land to continue to be a positive investment year over year.”
Ken Paper, Realtor with Ruhl Farm&Land and Realtors Land Institute member, concurred that our local markets are on track for additional growth.
“An interesting point is that there is such high interest from investor buyers,” Paper said. “With good returns from land, the market will continue strong.”
Ruhl Farm&Land, a division of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, is focused on the sale, purchase and marketing of land, farms and acreages. For more information, visit www.RuhlFarmandLand.com.
A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has grown to more than 290 sales associates, 58 employees and eleven offices, selling more than 4,300 homes in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. The company has residential sales offices in Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Iowa City, Maquoketa and Muscatine, Iowa; and in Moline, Illinois. In addition to residential sales, the company offers services in relocation, property management, real estate investments, new home sales, land development, farm sales, senior services, home vendor services, insurance services through the Nelson Brothers Agency and mortgage services through 1862 Mortgage. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS, visit www.RuhlHomes.com.

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